Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics 

United States Department of Agriculture and State 
Agricultural Colleges, Cooperating 



Status and Results of Extension 
Work in the Southern States 

1903-1921 



W. B. MERCIER, Assistant Chief 

Office of Extension Work in the South 
States Relations Service 




UNITED STATES, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 248 



Washington, D. C. NOVEMBER, 1922 



WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTINO OFFICE : 1892 






HPHE Office of Extension Work in the South and the 
-*- Office of Extension Work in the North and West 
were combined into one office on October 1, 1921, by 
order of the Secretary of Agriculture, to be known 
thereafter as the Office of Extension Work. Since 
the two offices operated independently and under 
different appropriations and somewhat different pol- 
icies, it seems proper that they make separate final 
reports covering the 1921 operations and results. It 
also appears desirable to preface this final report 
with a historical outline of early conceptions of the 
demonstration idea and its growth and development 
in the South up to date. This would complete the 
records and close an era in two interesting and per- 
haps far-reaching pieces of contemporary work, and 
prepare the way for the reception of the new organi- 
zation covering the whole country. 

C. B. SMITH, 
Chief, Office of Extension Work. 



tip- 

A* 



STATUS AND RESULTS OF EXTENSION WORK IN 
THE SOUTHERN STATES, 1903-1921. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

History and development 3 

Introduction , 3 

County demonstration work 4 

County agent work 8 

Boys' club work 9 

Girls' club and home demonstra- 
tion work 11 

Organization and administra- 
tion 15 



Page. 

Work in 1921 16 

County agent work 18 

Home demonstration and girls' 

club work 23 

Boys' club work 31 

Negro extension work 35 

Conclusions 38 



EARLY HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF EXTENSION WORK IN 

THE SOUTH. 

INTRODUCTION. 

Agriculture is the fundamental industry in the United States, and 
has been recognized by the leaders in national affairs from the begin- 
ning as essential to the life and prosperity of the Nation. Notwith- 
standing this general recognition of the importance of agriculture, 
it is only in comparatively recent years that any very definite atten- 
tion has been given to improved methods and permanent develop- 
ment. Early mention is found of local organizations or societies that 
considered farm problems. Most of them were short-lived, of limited 
influence, and without public support. It is within the last 35 years 
that the farmers' problems began to receive concerted systematic 
consideration as national problems. It is very probable that the 
influence of the few widely scattered early agricultural societies 
caused some of the forward-thinking men to get a vision of the possi- 
bilities and needs along this line and led them to formulate plans 
that resulted in establishing the great agricultural and industrial 
institutions which are now so generally recognized and supported by 
National and State legislatures and which have become such potent 
factors for the agricultural development and material upbuilding of 
each State. 

The passage of the Morrill Act in 1862 was the first national aid 
to State schools. This led to the establishment of agricultural in- 
struction in State universities and colleges throughout the country. 
In 1887 Congress passed the Hatch Act, by which, under certain 
conditions, each State receives Federal support for conducting ex- 
periment stations in connection with the State agricultural colleges. 
The effective and far-reaching investigational work done by these 
early experiment stations marked the beginning of a great movement 
for the development and improvement of agriculture. 

3 



4 Department Circular 248, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

In addition to the resident teaching and investigational work done 
by these institutions in the South, they undertook to carry informa- 
tion to the farming people through publications and by lectures and 
the distribution of bulletins at farmers' meetings away from the in- 
stitutions. Some of the State colleges and State departments of 
agriculture organized farmers' institutes to carry to the country dis- 
tricts the latest information and instruction for the improvement of 
the rural conditions. Most of the institute speakers were from the 
college or experiment station staff, but good farmers were some- 
times temporarily secured to assist in the work. It is hard to esti- 
mate the influence these annual institutes, or farmers' meetings, had 
in creating interest in better farming and promoting the idea of or- 
ganized demonstration or extension work. The chief drawbacks to 
this method of reaching the remote districts were limited financial 
support, small available working forces, and too frequent meetings 
in small towns instead of in country communities or on a good farm, 
meeting but once a year, no system of follow-up work to keep the 
farmer interested or instructed, and worst of all, failure to reach the 
nonprogressive, nonreading farmer, who needed the message most. 

To reach, to interest, and help this large percentage of the people of 
the rural districts, to improve conditions and increase the family in- 
come, and to give a broader outlook and create higher ideals of country 
life were the problems that faced the early agricultural leaders. These 
leaders well knew of the vast store of accumulated information in the 
State agricultural colleges and in the United States Department of 
Agriculture that the farmers needed and should have, but occasional 
institutes and the distribution of printed bulletins had failed to 
influence more than a very small percentage to translate the informa- 
tion into actual farm practice. It gradually dawned upon some of 
those interested in getting the lessons across to the average man that 
new methods were needed to supplement what was already being 
done. The great need was for men with good training and practical 
experience, living and working in close touch with the farmer, who 
could translate scientific knowledge into terms which the farmer 
could understand, and for an organized system through which this 
knowledge could be given to the farmer as he needed it and developed 
ability to make practical use of it. 

DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTY DEMONSTRATION WORK. 

Important events and movements of the world have been pre- 
cipitated by apparently insignificant happenings. The Mexican cot- 
ton-boll weevil was the small insect that afforded the opportunity for 
beginning a line of work that has now been incorporated into the 
laws of the Nation and the States. The idea was that of teaching 
the man, the woman, the boy, or the girl by demonstrations or object 
lessons on their own farms and in their own homes to do things with 
their own hands. Dr. S. A. Knapp was the first man conceiving 
this idea who had the faith, the patience, the personality, and the 
ability to seize upon the favorable conditions under which to put it 
into practical application. 

The boll weevil crossed from Mexico to Texas in 1892. In 10 years 
it spread practically all over that State. The damage and demoraliza- 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 5 

tion that followed had paralyzed all lines of business. The State 
authorities had failed to cope with the situation, so in 1903 the State 
appealed to Congress for help, claiming that it had become a national 
problem. Previous to this time, Doctor Knapp had conducted some 
work in Texas for the United States Department of Agriculture. He 
had already established a community demonstration farm at Terrell, 
not directly for fighting the boll weevil, as has frequently been stated, 
because, up to this time, no weevil damage had been reported in this 
immediate section. The farm was established to prove the wisdom of 
crop diversification and to carry out Doctor Knapp's long-cherished 
idea that an object lesson was the best method of educating and in- 
structing the average person. This first demonstration contained 
70 acres on the farm of Walter Porter. Porter agreed with Doctor 
Knapp to try out his cropping system and to follow instructions in 
growing the crops, under certain conditions, chief of which was to 
be guaranteed against loss by the operation. This illustrates the 
difficulties the agents had in getting the farmers' cooperation in the 
early days of demonstration work. However, the business men of 
Terrell placed a sum of money in the bank to indemnify Porter for 
any losses he might sustain. Doctor Knapp visited the farm monthly 
to give instructions in methods of growing the crop. The business 
men also appointed a committee to visit the farm regularly to see 
that instructions were being carried out and records kept. It is 
sufficient to say here that the demonstration was a success. Porter 
made more on the 70 acres than he had ever made on the same amount 
of land. He is still a good demonstrator, applying improved methods 
to all phases of his farming operations. 

In 1903 Congress, by an amendment to another bill, made avail- 
able a sum of money to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to meet 
the emergency caused by the ravages of the boll weevil. This money 
was divided among several offices and bureaus, with the idea of 
attacking the problem from several different angles. A small amount 
of it was given to Doctor Knapp to try out his demonstration in good 
farming as a means of relieving the distress. 

Of the second appropriation made to fight the boll weevil, which 
became available January, 1904, about $25,000 was given Doctor 
Knapp to continue the cooperative demonstration work. A few 
agents were employed and sent out through the boll-weevil districts 
in Texas. They first called meetings of farmers and business men 
and told them that the department believed that cotton could be 
grown successfully in spite of the weevil, and made certain recom- 
mendations that had been worked out by the entomologist and others 
who had been studying the problem. They endeavored to establish a 
few demonstrations along railroad lines in several counties to test 
these ideas. 

In order to get the farmers to agree to set aside a certain acreage 
for these demonstrations, the business men agreed to supply funds 
to purchase seed and fertilizers for the farmers as a bonus to encour- 
age them to follow the instructions. The cooperation of business 
men and others was sought and secured from the beginning. 

The first agents covered from 10 to 15 counties. They held meet- 
ings, invited all the farmers, and at each place a few who were 



6 Department Circular 248, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

willing to follow instructions were asked to become demonstrators. 
After a farmer agreed to become a demonstrator the agent visited 
his farm as often as possible and also sent instructions by letters, cir- 
culars, and bulletins. Invariably these demonstrations were located 
where they could be easily seen by the largest number of people. 
When the agent visited demonstration farms the neighboring farmers 
were notified beforehand, so a field or community meeting could be 
held on the demonstration farm. In this way the instruction could be 
given to a group at the one visit. Because no other crops were con- 
sidered for the first two or three years the early demonstrations were 
called " cotton culture farms." The work grew rapidly in Texas 
and soon spread into Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The 
results obtained in every instance were strikingly successful and the 
work began to attract more than local attention. 

In the spring of 1905 Dr. Wallace Buttrick, secretary of the Gen- 
eral Education Board, after a visit to Texas, during which he saw 
the demonstration work's success, recommended it to his board as a 
method with great possibilities for extending agricultural education 
to the masses of farm people. In 1906 Secretary of Agriculture 
James Wilson and Doctor Buttrick, representing the General Educa- 
tion Board, entered into an understanding by which the board agreed 
to finance a similar line of work in the nonboll-weevil territory, 
where under the law the congressional appropriation could not be 
used. In 1906 the board contributed $10,000 to start the work in 
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and in other States east of the 
Mississippi Kiver. The distribution of this money, the employment 
of agents, and the supervision of their work was turned over to 
Doctor Knapp to handle in the same way as the work financed from 
money given by Congress. 

Up to this time, as already stated, cotton was the only crop con- 
sidered. It was soon realized that to successfully meet the situation 
the whole farming system must be changed in the cotton territory, 
so demonstrations in corn, legumes, and live stock were planned. 
The language of the appropriation act was so changed as to allow 
this to be done. No direct appropriation was made for cooperative 
demonstration work until 1909. Until this time the amount used was 
given through the Bureau of Plant Industry. The chief of that 
bureau allotted to it increased amounts from the yearly appropria- 
tions to the bureau. 

In 1910 an appropriation bill was passed definitely setting aside 
" for the study and demonstration of the best methods of meeting 
the ravages of the Mexican cotton-boll weevil, fifty thousand dollars." 
The appropriations for the following two years Avere made in the 
same language. Although the amount of the department funds was 
increased each year, it was not until 1913 that the wording of the 
bill, under strict interpretation, was made broad enough to allow the 
money given by Congress to be used for the promotion of all lines 
of farming. In the States financed by the General Education Board, 
the agents were never limited to certain crops. 

The table following shows the growth of financial support for the 
work from the beginning to 1921, inclusive. 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 



Expenditures from all sources farmers cooperative demonstration and extension 
work from J90'f to 1921, inclusive. 





U. S. Department of 
Agriculture. 


General 

Educa- 
tion 
Board. 


Smith-Lever. 






Regular. 




Year. 


Farmers' 
cooperative 
demonstra- 
tion work. 


Other 
bureaus. 


Supplementary. 




Federal. 


State. 


Federal. 


State: 


1904 


• c 27, 316 

40,163 

37,677 

39, 976 

85,901 

102, 898 

219, 107 

243, 246 

335,856 

330,014 

371,800 

661,217 

607, 300 

576,41.5 

581,304 

576, 280 

495,000 

494, 800 














1905 














1906 




$7,000 
31,000 
69,000 
76,000 
102, 000 
120,000 
128,000 
142,050 
187, 500 










1907 










190S 










1909 . . . 












1910... 












1911 












1912... 












1913 












1914 












1915 




$147,788 

425, 517 

655, 105 

884, 761 

1, 114, 288 

1,343,880 

1, 573, 476 








1916... 


1110.865 

93,179 
108, 956 
252, 680 
168, 581 

88,070 




S275, 517 
505, 105 
734, 761 
964, 288 
1,193,880 
1,423,476 






1917 








1918 i... 








1919 i 








1920 




1674,629 

688, 977 


$674,629 


1921 




688. 977 








Total 


5, 826, 270 


822, 329 


862,550 


6,144,815 


4, 897, 027 


1,363,606 j 1,363,606 



Year. 


State. 


County. 


College. 


Other. 


Total. 


1904 










$27,316 
40,163 


1905 








1906 








44, 677 


1907 


$2,800 

4,200 

14,297 

33, 714 

76, 622 

175, 054 

272, 508 

411,179 

720.(143 

470, 517 

632, 499 

718, 081 

1,000,582 

718,845 

1,050,621 






73,976 
159, 101 


1908 






1909 






193, 695 


1910 






354, 821 


1911 






439, 868 
638, 910 


1912 






1913 






744,633 


1914 






970, 479 


1915 






1,539,649 


1916 

1917 

1918 1 

19191 

1920 


$80, 469 

54,175 

78,635 

87, 598 

52, 449 

242, 424 


$59. 957 

33, 733 

7,845 

26, 330 


$50,631 
91,632 
84, 880 
50, 227 
30, 424 
66, 350 


2, 049, 246 
2,617,335 
3, 198, 925 
4, 0/2, 076 
5, 252, 338 


1921 




6,316,370 








Total 


1 595,750 


6, 302, 222 


127, 865 


374, 144 


28, 733, 578 



1 Not including emergency funds for stimulating agncultural production which was available during this 
year. 

One striking thing shown in the above table is the increasing funds 
provided from local or count}' sources. This is strong evidence that 
the services are appreciated b} T the people. 

The money given by the General Education Board proved a great 
help in the pioneer days. It hastened the spread of the demonstra- 
tion doctrine and made it possible to establish lines of work that 
could not have been accomplished under public funds at that time. 
Effective July 1, 1914, Congress appropriated, in the Smith-Lever 
Cooperative Extension Act, sufficient funds to take over the entire 
work. 



8 Department Circular 248, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



COUNTY AGENT WORK. 

The first county agent whose work was confined to a single county 
was W. C. Stallings, of Smith County, Tex., who was appointed in 
1906. Part of his salary was paid from department funds and part 
by a contribution made by the business men of the county. The fol- 
lowing year two agents were appointed in Louisiana and five in 
other counties in Texas on a similar cooperative basis. In 1908, in 
Mississippi, W. D. Clayton, now county agent in Louisiana, was 
appointed as the first county agent, a part of his salary being paid 




Fig. 1. — County agent instructing a group of farmers. 

from public funds appropriated by the county. From this date the 
number of county agents grew very rapidly and the work was ex- 
tended to other States (Fig. 1). In 1908 the boys' club work was 
started and in 1910 the girls' club work was begun. In 1913 the 
home demonstration feature for adult women was added. On July 1, 
1914, when the Smith-Lever Act became operative, there were 
1,138 agents employed in the 15 Southern States in all lines. 

The table following shows the growth of the extension work by 
States and years from 1904 to 1921, inclusive. 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 9 



Number of agents engaged in farmers' cooperative demonstration work since its 
beginning in 1904 to 1921, inclusive, in cooperation with colleges, counties, 
and local organizations. 



State. 


1904 


1905 


1906 


1907 


1908 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 










20 


28 
8 
13 
12 
23 
17 
7 


55 
16 
44 
28 
37 
32 
28 
2 
27 
24 
24 


65 

30 
46 
50 
40 
43 
53 
14 
43 
51 
28 


71 
34 
49 
54 
54 
83 
57 
14 
56 
51 
50 


134 










54 










9 
6 
7 
5 


60 










68 








78 








95 








86 










40 












15 
13 
17 


69 












73 










2 


65 










6 
















1 


10 


23 


















Total 


i 15 


120 


125 


49 


153 


317 


464 


2 583 


2 851 







State. 


1913 


1914 


1915 


1916 


1917 


1918 


1919 


1920 


1921 




116 
54 
54 
71 
68 
91 
99 
40 
68 
91 
79 
7 
40 


133 
67 
68 
80 
80 

101 

112 
61 
84 

108 
92 
18 
49 
43 
42 


128 
83 
58 
83 
84 
95 

118 
66 
84 

116 
99 
23 
67 
69 
56 


128 
91 
73 

102 
90 

103 

132 
71 
88 

125 
92 
28 
86 
72 
69 


137 
101 

83 
124 
129 
108 
195 

83 

91 
134 
123 

41 
118 

83 
116 


307 
176 
150 
189 
190 
183 
265 
160 
131 
218 
212 
72 
203 
132 
131 


306 
184 
150 
188 
206 
155 
277 
134 
152 
217 
203 
68 
175 
114 
149 


223 
145 
100 
137 
155 
140 
184 
100 
111 
151 
137 
53 
100 
93 
95 


221 




136 




92 




114 




128 




133 




194 


Florida 


91 




112 




138 




128 




51 




.S9 




121 






84 








Total 


2 878 


2 1,138 


2 1, 229 


2 1,350 


2 1, 666 


2 2,619 


2 2, 678 


2 1, 924 


2 1,832 







i Estimate. No records available to show the actual number in each State. 
2 Includes women agents. See table p. 15. 

The large increase in agents shown by this table for the years 
1917, 1918, and 1919 was due to appointment of emergency agents 
in connection with efforts to stimulate agricultural production to meet 
conditions created by the World War. 

BOYS' CLUB WORK. 

After the establishment of the county demonstration agent work 
as a fundamental part of the plan, the next step was the organization 
of boys' club work (Fig. 2) . A few boys had been enlisted as demon- 
strators from the start. The hrst boys' club work, as a county unit, 
was organized in Holmes County, Miss., in 1907. During 1908 corn 
clubs were organized in a few counties in several States, with an 
enrollment of about 2,000. The experiment proved a success. In 
1909 an assistant in club work was appointed in the Washington 
office and the same year several States appointed, in cooperation 
with the department, a State club agent. Systematic effort was made 
to organize the work in a few counties in every Southern State. The 
club work grew rapidly and attracted attention all over the country. 

8908°— 22 2 



10 Department Circular 2b8, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

The enrollment in 1913 reached more than 91,000. During the first 
few years the club work was done largely through the schools, but 
the school officials did not always have the time or inclination to give 
proper supervision. It was found that many who had enrolled failed 
to do the work. In 1914 an effort was made to enlist only those who 
actually performed the work. This reduced the total number en- 
rolled to 53,580, and in 1915 it increased to 62,842. 




Fig. 



-County agent instructing club boys iu field selection of corn. 



It was soon found that the best boys' club work was found in 
counties where the demonstration agent became interested and looked 
after both the boys' and men's demonstrations. Finally a policy was 
adopted making club work a part of the county agent's duties. Re- 
plies to a recent questionnaire from all States show that on the aver- 
age all county agents devote about one-third of their time to club 
work. In many respects the club work is the most popular line of 
extension work. Since its beginning, thousands of the club boys 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. H 

have grown into men who are making the best of demonstrators. 
Through it hundreds became interested in getting a better education. 
In recent years the most coveted prizes for club members have been 
scholarships in agricultural schools and colleges. It is gratifying 
to note that some of the early club members have graduated from 
agricultural colleges and since become efficient county agents. Sev- 
eral thousand boys in the corn clubs have produced more than 100 
bushels of corn per acre, and 27 produced more than 200 bushels per 
acre. In later years, other crop clubs and animal clubs have been 
organized (Fig. 3) and the membership in these has grown rapidly; 
but the corn club still maintains the lead, so far as general distribu- 
tion and numbers participating are concerned. The work has also 




Fig. 3. — A pig club hoy and his pis. 

grown from the 1-year and 1-acre idea until some of the older boys 
are carrying on from 3 to 4 acre demonstrations, so that they may 
put into practice the idea of rotation and general farming. 

To meet a need and to supply help to a large percentage of the 
population in the South, farm makers' clubs have been inaugurated 
for negro boys. These boys receive the same general instruction and 
perform their work under the same rules as those in the white boys' 
clubs. 

GIRLS' CLUB AND HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK. 

It was soon realized that to make the system of demonstration 
work complete women and girls must be included, so in 1910 



12 Department Circular 2b8, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

girls' clubs were started in one county in South Carolina and two 
counties in Virginia. In 1911 there were 21 agents and more than 
3,000 girls enrolled. This work grew very rapidly, until in 1915 
there were in the 15 Southern States 387 home demonstration agents, 
with a club enrollment of 45,581. The girls, like beginners in every 
line of the work, were started off the first year with one crop (Fig. 4). 
The tomato was the first crop chosen and, as experience increased, 
other crops were added (Fig. 5). The girls were also taught how to 
can and preserve the products of their gardens. 

As already indicated, the home demonstration agents' work was 
confined almost entirely to working with the girls for the first few 




Pig. 4. — Homo demonstration agent instructing club girls in tomato growing. 

years; but, after this work became well established in the county, 
there was a natural demand for work of the same nature for the 
women; and in recent years the work of the home' demonstration 
agents has been pretty evenly divided between that for girls and that 
for women. Since development in this line has been a process of 
evolution, as in the county agent work, after the garden and canning 
phases were pretty well established, poultry work and similar lines 
were taken up one after another until the home demonstration work 
has gradually developed into a system that covers almost every ac- 
tivity that naturally falls to the girl and the woman in the farm 
home. 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 13 

When demonstration work was first started, the plan contemplated 
including all members of the family, but it was believed by the 
leaders at that time that it was not a wise policy to try to develop 
more than one phase of extension work at a time, the idea being to 
get one line well established and then gradually add the others as 
the occasion demanded and the finances would allow. One of the 
chief difficulties in pushing the girls' and women's work was that of 
finances. Under the provisions of the earlier law giving money for 
demonstration work, it could not legitimately be spent for carrying 
on either home demonstration or club work. To overcome this the 




Pig. .-..- Instiucting club members in sorting and grading fruits and vegetables. 

General Education Board agreed to finance these two lines of work 
until they had become sufficiently established to justify the Govern- 
ment in taking part in financing them. The fact that the work ac- 
complished under these new lines was so satisfactory and received 
so much publicity no doubt had a great influence in inducing those 
who had a part in drafting the extension legislation to include defi- 
nite provision for home economics or home demonstration work in 
the Smith Lever Act. Since the passage of this act and its accept- 
ance by the various States, the work along this line has become as 
well recognized a part of the system as the county agents' work. 

Girls' club work was started on the theory that the first funda- 
mental and essential need was to increase the family income. Greater 



14 Department Circular 248, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

financial independence must be established before taking up, except 
in a very general way, plans for improvement of the home and 
premises. It has been the usual experience that as soon as pros- 
perity begins the first impulse is to make improvements and increase 
the comforts in the home. The records show hundreds of instances 
where a club girl's first money was used to help furnish the home 
and improve the surroundings and buy suitable clothing. Many have 
actually gone through high school and college on money made in the 
club work. 




Fig. 6. — Home team work in canning tomatoes. 

As mentioned before, for several years the home demonstration 
agent confined her work almost entirely to girls, but the mother 
naturally was drawn in, and soon the agent was dividing her energies 
equally between the girls and their mothers. (Fig. 6.) When the work 
had become well enough advanced for the agent to get the sympathy 
and support of all members of the family, she had no difficulty in 
taking up almost every home problem and in suggesting helpful 
conveniences and improvements to lighten labor as well as brighten 
life. 

The table following shows the growth of home demonstration by 
States from 1911 to 1921, inclusive. 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 15 

Number of extension home demonstration agents engaged since the beginning of 
home demonstration work in 1911 to 1921, inclusive. 

[Includes urban and emergency agents.] 



State. 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


1915 


1916 


1917 


1918 


1919 


1920 


1921 






2 

3 
4 
3 

4 
2 
3 






16 
12 
13 
10 
13 
13 
17 
9 
11 
15 
13 

9 




19 
15 

8 
15 
20 
12 
28 
14 
17 
22 
15 


14 






26 
19 
13 
15 
33 
18 
29 
24 
21 
27 
17 
5 
18 
9 
5 


27 
24 
13 
20 
33 
19 
48 
27 
24 
34 
22 
6 
24 
19 
10 


39 
23 
22 
36 
33 
29 
47 
31 
33 
47 
25 
9 
36 
27 
12 


34 
28 
25 
50 
60 
30 
62 
39 
39 
52 
44 
14 
56 
30 
13 


91 

75 
58 
96 
82 
84 

141 
87 
72 

101 

111 
34 

108 
55 
34 


112 
58 
54 
93 
94 
54 

133 
76 
89 

107 

107 
30 

100 
34 
24 


71 
49 
34 
62 
66 
53 
77 
55 
52 
60 
43 
23 
45 
24 
16 


55 




44 




32 




49 




55 




48 




85 




45 




57 




55 




35 




21 




37 




26 




11 






Total 


21 


151 


199 


279 


350 


449 


576 


1,229 


1,165 


730 


655 







ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION. 

After the passage of the Smith-Lever Act, May 8, 1914, all demon- 
stration or extension work of the United States Department of Agri- 
culture and the State agricultural colleges became cooperative. 
When the assent of the governor was secured and the general memo- 
randum of understanding between the State college and the United 
States Department of Agriculture was signed, each State established 
an extension division in its agricultural college as an independent 
section ranking with the experiment station or college teaching force. 
A director, mutually satisfactory to the college and the department, 
is in charge of all extension work in the State. The director selects 
his staff, outlines his plans of work, which are covered by definite 
projects, previously agreed upon, and duly signed by himself and 
the representatives of the department. The administrative and 
supervisory- force in each State consists of the director in charge of 
all the work; the assistant director or State agents for each leading 
line of work, who cover the entire State ; men and women district 
agents, who have charge of the lines of work in a group of counties ; 
and the county men and women agents, whose work is confined to the 
county. 

As it is a part of every man agent's duty to look after boys' club 
work and of every home demonstration agent's to look after girls' 
club work in the county, the only club agents are those connected 
with the State office, who are in reality club specialists to assist the 
county agents in their club work, prepare literature and instructions 
for club members, collect the data on results, and prepare the State 
annual report. 

In addition, there is a considerable force of negro agents, men and 
women, who work exclusively with the negro farmers and farm 
women in those sections where there is a demand for such an addi- 
tional force and where it is thought advisable to have such agents. 1 



1 For details of the negro extension work, see U. 
cular 190. 



S. Department of Agriculture Cir- 



16 Department Circular 248, 11. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

To supplement this force located in the counties is a group of 
subject-matter specialists, who find out the best up-to-date informa- 
tion in their particular lines and furnish it to the agents, and, where 
necessary, assist the agents in carrying the information to the farm- 
ers and getting it adopted in field practice. 

In all lines of extension work, the concrete, definite demonstration 
on the farm or in the home is fundamental. The primary object is, 
first to establish county agent work in a county, then home demon- 
stration or any other additional work that seems proper and can be 
financed. The ultimate aim, of course, is to have at least a man and 
a woman in every agricultural county. 

The county agent has been recognized as the leader of all agri- 
cultural extension work in the county. The scope of his activities 
has been extended to include all kinds of farm problems. The stand- 
ard of qualifications and personality of the agents has steadily 
improved. 

Every extension worker is now required to submit in advance an 
outline of the plan of work for the year. 

The county agent's work in the South is invariably supported from 
public funds from three sources : County, State, and the United 
States Department of Agriculture. ' Agents are required, as public 
officials, to be ready to render a reasonable service to all the people 
in the county upon request. 

Community, county, and State organizations have come into being 
in nearly all of the States for the benefit of the farming interests. 
The extension forces cooperate and encourage them in every legiti- 
mate way and in turn receive, in most cases, very material assistance 
in carrying out their programs of work. These organizations have 
been most helpful in special campaigns, like safe farming, tick eradi- 
cation, hog-cholera control, increasing the live stock, better market- 
ing of farm products, and the like. These special campaigns have 
nearly always been made in cooperation with other bureaus of the 
United States Department of Agriculture. 

It is hoped that the foregoing sketch of the early history and de- 
velopment of the demonstration work will be helpful to a better 
understanding of the fundamental principles on which it was 
founded, the object and aims it hoped to accomplish, and the re- 
markable growth it has made up to the present time. The con- 
stantly increasing amount of funds contributed through the Federal 
Government, by the State legislatures, and from county sources would 
appear to be sufficient evidence to show that the work has been ap- 
preciated by those receiving the service as well as by those re- 
sponsible for the expenditure of the public funds. There are whole 
communities and counties in every State where the entire system of 
farming has been changed in the last 10 or 15 years through the in- 
fluence of the extension work. With its aid many sections that were 
once considered poor and unprogressive have developed a sound and 
profitable agriculture. 

EXTENSION WORK IN THE SOUTHERN STATES, 1921. 

The sensational drop in the prices of all farm products in the fall 
of 1920 and the general business depression resulting caused the 
extension forces in the Southern States to begin the work in 1921 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 17 

under more trying conditions than they had yet experienced. The 
necessary readjustments of the farming program after the war were 
made most difficult on account of high-priced cotton. The tendency 
of the farmer was to return to the one-crop system, which had long 
been the drawback in this section. The 1920 crop was the most ex- 
pensive ever produced in the South. The labor, farm machinery, 
fertilizers, and other things necessary to grow a crop were purchased 
at peak prices. By harvest time all commodities were selling for loss 
than the cost of production. All business became demoralized. 
Farm credit was destroyed, and thousands of farmers who had been 
in good circumstances had to give up land, equipment, and personal 
property to satisfy their creditors. The period of prosperity and 
spending was followed by a great wave of economy, which naturally 
affected the financial support of the extension service. The hard 
times and a demand for decrease in taxes caused some county fiscal 
bodies to withdraw their support of the extension agents, although 
the actual decrease in the total number of workers in the whole 
territory was not as great as might have been expected. 

Notwithstanding this unfavorable outlook, the extension leaders in 
every State immediately began to make their plans to meet the un- 
usual situation. Before the planting season was begun, the most 
successful campaign for reduction in cotton acreage in the history of 
the country had been conducted and a well-balanced diversified crop 
program adopted. Practically all of the land released by this reduc- 
tion of the cotton acreage was devoted to food and feed crops, which 
placed many farmers for the first time on a self-supporting basis. 

During the war period and the first two years following, many new 
agents and some of the old agents got away from the recognized 
fundamentals essential to a sound program for extension work. An 
impression had gotten abroad that field demonstrations were no 
longer necessary. It was assumed that, because the agents, under 
emergenc}^ conditions, had succeeded in doing some necessary work 
by propaganda, campaigning, and much talk, this method could be 
continued under normal conditions. The State officials realized that 
there had been a falling off in the agents' influence in improving farm 
conditions as compared with previous years. This in a measure was 
due to the farmers' unusual prosperity as a result of high prices for 
all his products, especially cotton, during the war. Many drifted 
back to the one-crop system instead of continuing the safe and sane 
program that had been fairly well established in many sections. 

The situation they faced at the beginning of 1921 changed the 
farmers' attitude toward the agents. Everybody was seeking advice 
and suggestions as to the best way of meeting the situation. The 
majority of the supervising force seized the opportunity to impress 
the agents with the importance of readjusting the plans of work on 
a sound basis. Examination of the records showed that the agent 
who could still influence farmers to follow methods that were safe 
and sound had no trouble in securing financial support. On the 
other hand, the agent who did not make personal contacts but carried 
on his work from the office and by letter writing and propaganda 
failed. 

8908°— 22 3 



18 Department Circular 2£8, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

COUNTY AGENT WORK. 

As in earlier years, most of the demonstrations in 1921 were con- 
fined to the standard farm crops and some phase of live-stock work. 
Demonstrations with hay, forage crops, orchards, permanent pas- 
tures, and soil improvement are again receiving a great deal of 
attention. The community and club demonstration idea has become 
well recognized and greatly developed in each State. 

No county agent now attempts to carry on his work without some 
kind of a plan. In most cases the county program is worked out in a 
preliminary meeting of the man and woman agent with a committee 
composed of representatives from all organized communities in the 
county. They discuss the problems and how they can best be solved, 
and outline a tentative plan for the county. This is sent by the 
agents through the district agent to the State office, where the 
supervisory force and the specialists make revisions and suggestions 
before it is approved and returned to the agents in the county. 
Most of the States have developed a State program of work. Practi- 
cally all of the county plans for 1921 provided for stressing a few 
of the outstanding needs or activities. The features that seem to be 
common to all the States, are: Soil-improvement demonstrations; 
field-crop demonstrations, including orchard and horticulture ; live- 
stock demonstrations ; club work ; community organization ; and 
cooperative marketing. 

Soil Improvement. 

It is beginning to dawn upon all extension workers that more 
attention must be given to soil improvement if southern agriculture 
is to be maintained at its highest efficiency. The extension service 
in every State is making unusual efforts to encourage, first, terracing 
the land to prevent washing, and, second, the growing of more soil 
improving crops to be turned under. It is a common thing to see 
whole farms terraced in all of the cotton States, and in some coun- 
ties a large percentage of the farms has been terraced. The county 
agents reported 22,335 newly terraced farms last year. 

Use of manures and fertilizers. — Greater attention probably was 
given to the saving and application of farm manures and lime than 
in any previous year. More than 61,000 farmers were instructed in 
the care and use of manure, and 13,351 in the use of lime. The 
inability of the farmers to buy the usual amount of commercial 
fertilizers accounts for the increased interest in home manures. 
Owing to the financial condition of the farmers and the merchants, 
and high prices asked, less than half as much fertilizer was bought 
in 1921 as in 1920. Last year's experience without fertilizer on many 
farms demonstrated the fact that a fairly liberal use of commercial 
fertilizer is almost a necessity to produce cotton under boll-weevil 
conditions. There is little question that the unusual damage from 
the weevil and low average yields in 1921 were largely due to in- 
sufficient use of fertilizer to promote growth and hasten maturity. 

Crop Demonstrations. 

As in all previous years, corn led in field crop demonstrations. 
There were 8,981 corn demonstrations, totaling 211,340 acres, aver- 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 19 

aging 38.4 bushels per acre, which is almost double the average 
yield in the Southern States. In addition, 53,302 farmers cooperated 
with the county agent in testing one or more of the practices 
being demonstrated, on 653,476 acres, with an average yield of 28.7 
bushels. As a result of these demonstrations and other extension 
influences 275,000 farmers changed their methods of corn culture. 

Cotton came next, with 4,245 demonstrations, embracing 115.591 
acres, yielding an average of 862 pounds of seed cotton per acre, or 
more than twice the average yield of the entire cotton territory. In 
addition, 34,713 farmers cooperated with agents in adopting one or 
more of the demonstrated practices in connection with cotton pro- 
duction on 437,723 acres, obtaining an average yield of 574 pounds. 
As a result of the extension work. 144,000 farmers changed their 
methods of cotton culture. 

There were 8.777 demonstrations on 165,175 acres, with the small 
grains — oats, wheat, rye, barley, and rice. In addition, 34,305 farmers 
cooperated with the extension agents in testing one or more of the 
demonstrated practices in small grain culture on 314.362 acres. As 
a result of the extension work, 145,000 farmers changed their meth- 
ods of small grain culture. The average yields obtained in the small 
grains demonstrations exceeded the average yield in the grain-pro- 
ducing States, showing that such crops may be grown successfully 
almost anywhere in the cotton region. 

More than the usual attention was given to the winter legumes, in- 
cluding alfalfa and red, crimson, bur, and sweet clovers, all of which 
were found to do well in many sections. There were 4.294 demonstra- 
tions in connection with winter legumes on 51,898 acres. In addition. 
7,240 farmers cooperated with the agents in testing improved methods 
of culture of winter legumes on 61.300 acres. As a result of the ex- 
tension work 44,000 farmers changed their practices in connection 
with winter legumes. The summer legumes, including cowpeas, soy 
beans, velvet beans, lespedeza, and peanuts for feed, were generally 
grown. The agents report 12.247 demonstrations, with approxi- 
mately 212,123 acres, in these crops. In addition, 42.156 farmers co- 
operated with the agents in testing one or more of the recommended 
practices in connection with the production of summer legumes on 
306.680 acres. The extension work resulted in 160.000 farmers 
changing their methods of culture of summer legumes. 

A greatly increased acreage was planted in various hay and forage 
crops for feed, and the number of new and renovated pastures was 
beyond all expectations. Many minor crops, such as potatoes, sugar 
cane, sorghum, and orchard and truck crops, were materially in- 
creased both for home use and for market purposes. The total of all 
crop demonstrations, including pastures, in the Southern States, was 
292,790, the total acreage covered being 3,011.633. 

Good seed. — The progressive farmer now feels that it is just as im- 
portant and profitable to have purebred seed as purebred animals. 
Another outstanding piece of demonstration work was the increasing 
number of communities where all the farmers have been influenced 
to standardize and grow the same variety of corn or cotton. This 
has probably gone further in parts of Texas. Alabama. Arkansas, 
and North Carolina than in any of the other States. 



20 Department Cireular 248, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

Horticultural work received a severe setback over a large part of 
the territory on account of the late freezes that practically destroyed 
the fruit crops and some early vegetables. As a result man}*- orchards 
have been more or less neglected. However, small fruits, truck crops, 
melons, and sweet potatoes received attention and were on the whole 
found profitable. There were probably more home gardens and 
small orchards planned and started than during previous years. The 
extension specialist in horticulture has been in demand in many 
States and has rendered a most valuable service, not only in connec- 
tion with producing the crops but in grading, packing, and market- 
ing the products. 

Live-stock Work. 

Owing to the prevailing low prices for all kinds of live stock, this 
industry received quite a setback throughout the cotton territory and 
naturally made little real progress even in those Southern States not 
strictly in the cotton territory. Dairying, because of the good de- 
mand and satisfactory prices for its products, was the only branch of 
live-stock farming that held its own ; and in some localities made ma- 
terial progress. In certain sections of Arkansas, Alabama. Georgia, 
Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina a healthy interest in 
dairying has been developed; and in the other States, where there 
was already considerable dairying, greater attention is being given 
to improvements and expansion. An unusual effort was made to 
place more milk cows on the small farms to provide milk and butter 
for family use. Considerable work has been done in a number of 
States to increase consumption of milk. The feeding and pasture 
phases were emphasized by all agencies. Besides the general promo- 
tion of the dairy work, the agents and specialists report as a result 
of their influence the bringing into the States of 2,080 purebred bulls. 
7.595 cows, and 10,177 grade dairy cows. They assisted in testing 
for production 25,631 cows ; report 2,757 demonstrations along vari- 
ous lines; established 404 new cream stations and 321 new cream 
routes, 162 cow-testing associations, and 103 bull associations. 

Beef cattle. — The beef-cattle industry suffered a most serious 
setback. The prices of all grades of beef animals became so low 
that many became discouraged, sold their herds, and went out of the 
business. Many farseeing agricultural leaders in the South believe 
there is danger that this line of live-stock farming may be over- 
encouraged, except in very restricted areas. It is safe to advocate 
the growing of a few well-bred beef animals on every farm ; and on 
certain farms, where there are large areas well adapted to pastures, 
considerable herds might be profitably kept, if proper intelligence 
and attention is put into the business. In recent years much has 
been done to build up small herds as side lines on the average farm. 
A really worth while piece of extension work has been accomplished 
by pushing the better-sire campaigns. The results are plainly 
visible throughout the cotton States in the improved grade of cattle. 
During the year the extension agencies assisted in placing, mostly 
on small farms, 4,576 purebred and 9,507 graded beef cattle in the 
various communities, showing that the idea of improving the type 
of a limited number of cattle is more important than having too 
many. 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 21 

Swine. — The swine industry has about held its own. Even with 
the low prices prevailing, many farmers made some profit on their 
hogs. With the grade of swine now produced in the southern terri- 
tory, permanent success should follow a reasonable amount of atten- 
tion to the growing of feed and the providing of suitable conditions. 
In certain sections the farmers have found it more profitable to 
grow 100 to 125 pound pigs to be sold as feeders. This may be the 
result of claims that the South produces only soft pork. There is no 
reason, however, for continuing this practice, as the hogs can be 
grown, up to a certain stage, on pasture and peanuts and then topped 
off with corn and other feeds to harden the flesh. The agents and 
specialists report influencing the starting of 8,919 farmers with 
purebred breeding stock and the bringing into the territory of 21,116 
purebred swine for improving and building up the herds already 
started. 

Poultry. — The poultry industry has developed rapidly in all the 
States. Where properly managed, either on a small or a rather 
large scale, it has given satisfactory returns. There is a poultry ex- 
tension specialist in every State, working largely with the home 
demonstration agents and club members and also assisting the county 
agents and farmers whenever necessary. In one State more than a 
thousand purebred flocks were placed on farms in 1921. Special 
drives to increase production of infertile eggs and to improve grad- 
ing, packing, and marketing of eggs, and campaigns to promote 
culling and to create interest in better feeding and housing have been 
conducted in all the States. More details regarding poultry work 
may be found in the home demonstration section of this report 
(p. 27). 

Organizations. 

A large part of the agents' attention in every State during the year 
was devoted to instructing the farmers on matters relating to the for- 
mation and conduct of farm organizations. No agent can now hope 
to reach a sufficient number of the people in the county without the 
aid of some organized cooperating body. Farm bureaus, the farmers' 
union, live-stock associations, truck-growing associations, tobacco- 
growers' associations, and others are giving more or less support to 
the extension divisions, and, in some cases, are definitely lined up 
with them in all kinds of work that the extension people can legiti- 
mately participate in. There were reported as actively supporting 
the extension work in the Southern States in 1921, 585 county organi- 
zations, composed of 7.583 community or farmers' club organizations. 
Of this number. 4,828 are organized on such a plan as to include the 
whole family. The total membership was about 295,000. 

( 'OOPERATIVE M ARRETING. 

For several years the problem of marketing farm products has 
been of primary importance (Fig. 7). The conditions in which the 
agricultural situation found itself during the last two years have 
made it absolutely necessary for the whole extension force to devote 
a great deal of attention to* this big problem. The agents have been 
more or less active in aiding the organization of cooperative ship- 
ment of farm products' on a county basis for several years past ; but 



22 Department Circular 2k8, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

during 1921 there was a demand in every State for state-wide or- 
ganizations to handle this problem. Usually these have been brought 
about first by community cooperative marketing associations, these 
merging into county organizations and then into a State organiza- 
tion. During 1921 the marketing idea was advanced still further by 
the organization of marketing associations on a commodity basis. 
Remarkable progress has been made in perfecting cooperative cotton 
marketing associations in Oklahoma, Texas, and Mississippi, which 
handled a good percentage of the 1921 cotton crop with satisfaction 
and profit to the farmers. The other heavy cotton producing States 
have about perfected such associations for handling the 1922 crop. 
North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee 
have organized tobacco associations, through which a large part 
of the tobacco crop was marketed. No doubt by the next harvest 
season there will be in many of the States, in addition to cooperative 
cotton marketing associations, a pretty well developed cooperative 




Fig. 7. — Cooperative marketing. 

marketing system on the commodity basis for handling such 
locally grown crops as peanuts, sweet potatoes, hay, and the 
various kinds of fruit and truck crops. The membership in the co- 
operative marketing associations being organized on the commodity 
basis, especially in the case of the major products, are signing con- 
tracts of from five to seven years' duration. This insures a degree 
of permanency and enables the management to proceed in a business- 
like manner. The extension forces are not officially connected with 
these associations, but have been active in encouraging and pro- 
moting them. Local cooperative buying and selling organizations 
so assisted handled more than $37,000,000 worth of products, with 
a saving of over $6,000,000. 

Closely associated with marketing work should be mentioned the 
sweet-potato industry, which has made wonderful growth through 
the building of curing and storage houses in many sections of the 
cotton region. The extension forces, cooperating with the Bureau 
of Plant Industry and the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 23 

(now Agricultural Economics), have assisted farmers and others in 
building hundreds of these houses. The results have been highly 
satisfactory, being the means of adding another cash crop as par- 
tial substitute for cotton in the boll- weevil districts. 

Fairs. 

The extension workers have always spent more or less time and 
thought on fairs of various sorts. No doubt the community and 
county fairs have been a stimulus to agricultural improvement in 
many cases. Not until recently has the idea of making fairs educa- 
tional rather than simply a mass display of miscellaneous farm and 
home products been given much consideration. The tendency now 
is to replace such still exhibits with those having some movement or 
life in them. For example, the great displays of cheese, butter, and 
other dairy products, with the still dairy equipment usually found in 
dairy exhibits at fairs, are being replaced by demonstrations in the 
methods of producing and handling the different products, conducted 
by well-qualified persons. This not only attracts attention, but also 
gives valuable instruction to visitors. The same method could be 
applied to many other exhibits. When the idea has been fully de- 
veloped and applied, it is believed that much more interest will be 
taken in fairs and they will be truly a part of a great educational 
movement. 

Miscellaneous Work. 

Some other extension activities during the year were as follows: 
Agents' visits to farms, 941,479; miles traveled," 6,555,320; office calls, 
1,742,633; public meetings held, 70,123, attendance, 4,136,879; field 
meetings, 20,031, attendance, 392,041; United States Department of 
Agriculture bulletins distributed, 545,282; State publications dis- 
tributed, 495,643; new farm buildings erected, 7,481, improved, 
14.643; plans furnished, 5,060; water systems installed 2,756; light- 
ing plants installed, 4,289: homes screened, 59,408; sanitary improve- 
ments made, 37,877: telephone systems installed, 1,474; pastures 
started or renovated, 16,526; drainage put in. 224.180 acres; new 
farm implements and tools procured. 244,330. 

HOME DEMONSTRATION AND GIRLS' CLUB WORK. 

The most significant development in the home demonstration work 
in the South in 1921 was the great increase in the number of demon- 
strations carried on by the women and girls in their homes and on 
the farmsteads. The total enrollment in various kinds of home 
demonstration work in 1921 was 517,046, as compared with 321,129 
in 1920. While this is a splendid growth, it is the rather natural 
development. A woman or girl who succeeds with a demonstration 
in one line naturally desires to expand to other lines. She takes 
pleasure in the fact that her good work attracts the attention of her 
neighbors. She not only becomes an example but also an instructor. 
Expansion of demonstrations from the garden to the orchard and 
vineyard is a growth not only logical but automatic. The agent 
finds little trouble in leading from productive activities into utiliza- 



24 Department Circular 248, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

tion of products; hence, such encouraging figures in the reports of 
canning, drying, brining, and even marketing. 

The increasing numbers of women and girls sending in reports 
of their work further proves the substantial character of the home 
demonstration work. Complete reports were received from 308,301 
out of a half million enrolled in various lines of the home demonstra- 
tion work, showing that the work is taken more seriously and carried 
forward more vigorously each year. Attention is called to the fact 
that demonstrators with two or more years' experience are disposed 
to take up work along several lines. Each individual enrolled aver- 
aged about two activities. Of the 264,012 individual girls and 
women enrolled, 127,602 turned in their reports. Nearly two-thirds 
of the enrollment were in organized clubs. Altogether there were 
23,076 organized clubs, with a total membership of 160,823, leaving 
practically 100,000 demonstrators who carried out the work outside 
of organized clubs. 

It is a notable fact that a home demonstration agent can have a 
large number of people doing work. It is not so much the instruc- 
tion work that the agent herself does as it is the number of examples 
or object lessons she can get the girls and women to do with their 
own hands and in their own homes. Of course, the agents have to 
carry forward some instruction work at all times. The total number 
of demonstrations in methods by the home demonstration agents 
in 1921 was 114,199. It is unfortunate, however, when an agent con- 
siders her instruction work as the real teaching objective. It is en- 
tirely possible for an agent to put on a good lecture demonstration 
which will be followed by meager results. It is a different proposi- 
tion when she inspires some one else to take up activities on her own 
account which will lead on step by step into permanent home im- 
provement and beautification. It is such work on the part of earnest 
women and girls that is furnishing object lessons which constitute 
perennial and perpetual instruction and inspiration. 

There were 947 demonstrations per agent in the Southern States in 
1921 and an average of 564 reports. There were 484 demonstrators 
per agent. This certainly means that one woman can multiply her 
usefulness to a wonderful degree in extension work. Her efficiency 
is measured by her ability to get other people to do things. It can 
readily be seen that where an agent has been in a county for several 
years and where she has a large number of dependable cooperators, 
she does not have to give so much individual attention to the work. 
In fact, each woman who is making improvements in her home and 
its environment is a center of instruction and influence. 

It is necessary for county extension workers to carry forward a 
strong program of demonstrations at all times. A certain amount 
of coaching and training is necessary, but the instruction work on 
the part of the agent herself is subordinated to her program of - 
demonstrations. She must push others forward because they con- 
vince by their deeds. There are many instances where agents who 
have worked quietly in their counties have developed an organization 
which has grown out of the successes of the women and girls. In 
many cases their work will go on for years, whether the agent re- 
mains in a county or not. It is possible, even in pioneer work of 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 25 

this kind, to set up definite standards of measurement for successful 
work among masses of people. 

Gardening. — The girls' club work began in 1910 with garden work. 
The earlier demonstrations were in the production and utilization 
of one vegetable — the tomato. It soon developed into home demon- 
stration work for women as well as for girls, but the interest in the 
garden work has never subsided. It is still the starting point for 
the first-year club members and demonstrators. There are increas- 
ing numbers of advanced demonstrations in various phases of gar- 
den work every year. In 1921 there was a total enrollment of 31,873 
girls and 59,026 women in home, market, combination, winter, and 
perennial garden work. Together they produced a total yield of more 
than 30,000,000 pounds. More than one-third of this yield was 
canned and one-fifth sold fresh, the remainder being used in the 
homes. 

Flowers. — One of the most interesting developments of the year 
was the number of flower garden demonstrations undertaken. This 
is the first year that such demonstrations have been systematically 
and generally encouraged. They represent an advanced step of de- 
velopment. There were 23,233 demonstrations of this kind enrolled. 
While these demonstrations were encouraged primarily for their 
beauty, many of the agents were surprised to find that the girls and 
women could market flowers to fine advantage in many towns and 
cities. Many instances were reported where individual demonstra- 
tors cleared several hundred dollars each on their flowers. 

Fruits. — It is but a short step from the garden demonstrations to 
demonstrations with orchards, groves, and vineyards. Inasmuch as 
successful work along these lines requires continuous application for 
several years, these demonstrations are more difficult, but also more 
important and effective. As a rule, the object lessons which can be 
given in a short time do not make a permanent and lasting impres- 
sion like those which require a longer period. From one point of 
view a home demonstration is really not complete until all of the 
phases of work which have been developed in the last 10 or 12 years 
are completed upon a given farmstead. When a woman or girl gets 
such an objective she becomes a great influence and power in her 
community. The demonstration is not complete until the whole 
farmstead, with a well-built house and a beautiful lawn and land- 
scape, is developed. Eeal progress in this direction is indicated, 
however, when the agents report an enrollment of 12,997 girls and 
43,807 women in orchard, grove, and vineyard demonstrations. This 
represents work with apples, peaches, citrus trees, nuts, grapes, ber- 
ries, and small fruit. 

Cmmhig and preserving.— In view of the fact that frost came 
late in the spring of 1921, and the damage to fruit as well as vege- 
tables was extensive, it was not to be expected that the girls and 
women would do so much canning and conserving. In fact there 
was some reduction in these lines of work. The figures for them 
are still large, however. Four million six hundred thousand quarts 
of vegetables and an equal number of quarts of fruit were canned. 
In addition, 3,129,965 quarts of preserves, jams, jellies, fruit juices, 
ketchups, pickles, relishes, and soup mixtures were put up for winter 



26 Department Circular 2'i8, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

use or for market and more than 5,000,000 pounds were dried, 
brined, and stored under the instruction of the agents. 

The increase in meat conservation work (Fig. 8) in 1921 more 
than offset the slight loss in the work with fruits and vegetables. 
In fact, the figures indicate the accomplishment of more difficult 
work by the agents as well as by the women and girls. The number 
of pounds of beef, veal, pork, lamb, poultry, game, fish, and sea 
foods put up was 625,083. This was plain canning. It indicates, 
to some extent, the use of steam-pressure outfits for all meat work. 
In addition to the plain canning of meat, much interest has been 
aroused in the canning of certain noted old-time Southern dishes, 
such as Dixie burgoo, pinebark fish stew, chicken gumbo, and jambo- 
laya. These combinations of the various meats and vegetables rep- 



F7H2 l aH Hk 1 


*- 

i 





Pig. 8. — Preparing beef for canning. 

resent very important dietary work. The club members take the 
greatest interest in the study of foods when they are making com- 
binations of this kind. In fact, it has been found very desirable in 
all stages of the demonstration work to impress certain important 
lessons incidentally. Sanitation, nutrition, balanced diet, and many 
other things can be impressed so much more effectively when the 
motive is established first. It is much easier to create a desire for 
knowledge on the part of people who are really anxious to do 
things for themselves and for their neighbors. The profit motive 
is fundamental. 

The home demonstration agents have been stressing the meat cur- 
ing demonstrations only a few years, but the figures for the past 
year are excellent. The total number of pounds of beef, pork, 
sausage, lard, scrapple, etc., cured during 1921 was 15.945.608. 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 27 

Poultry. — The poultry work has been another outstanding feature 
during 1921. (Fig. 9.) More than 60,000 were enrolled in the exten- 
sion work with chickens, turkeys, ducks, guineas, and geese. There 
seems to be the same tendency toward evolution in the poultry work 
that was manifest in the garden. When the club member succeeds 
with a few chickens she wants to go on to advanced stages of poultry 
work. It is not long until she is demonstrating the use of incubators, 
brooders, and laying houses, and the handling of standard bred 
chickens in general. Several club members report profits of above 
$1,000 per member in their poultry work. This seems to indicate 
that the poultry work up to this time has largely been one of prepara- 
tion for greater things. 




Fig. '•>. A cooperative egg circle. 

Milk and milk products. — The interest in the demonstrations with 
milk and milk products was maintained throughout the year. About 
35,000 demonstrators took part in this important line. Three and 
one-half million pounds of butter were made in accordance with the 
instructions given by the agents. A great deal of cheese was made 
and thousands of gallons of milk and cream were used at home and 
put on the market as a result of the activities of the women agents. 
Milk was secured in 3,211 country schools for lunches. This was done 
by the home demonstration clubs. 

Bread. — Cereal products furnished the material for the enrollment 
of 45265 in bread demonstrations. In addition to work with plain 
bread, a great deal was done with gems, cakes, waffles, pies, cookies, 



28 Department Circular 248, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

etc. In many communities there has been a complete revolution in 
the methods of bread making. 

Clothing, etc. — From 75,000 to 100,000 demonstrators have done 
special work with textile material, fabrics, straws, pine needles, etc. 
Thus there are records of thousands of caps, aprons, emblems, sewing 
bags, towels, holders, dresses, hats, dress forms, table sets, curtains, 
rugs, baskets, brushes, brooms, quilts, coverlets, bedspreads, and 
mattresses made. As in other phases of work, this also represents a 
gradual development with certain articles and products added year 
by year. 

Equipment and conveniences. — One of the most interesting and 
significant features of the whole work has been the equipment made 
or purchased in order to promote the demonstrations in hand. 




Pig. 10. — Home demonstration agent at a community club meeting. 

(Fig. 10.) The records for 1921 show that about 28,000 women and 
girls secured spraying outfits and made cold frames and hotbeds for 
their garden outfits. About 60,000 made or purchased canning out- 
fits, driers, and other similar equipment for their fruit and vegetable 
work. More than 30,000 have provided self-feeders, water fountains, 
and candling lamps for their poultry work. About 7,000 secured 
special equipment for meat work, such as steam-pressure cookers, 
sausage mills, scales, and cutting outfits. More than 30,000 bought 
separators, sanitary milking pails, thermometers, improved churns, 
and other facilities for handling milk and milk products in the 
cleanest and best manner. The bread work is emphasized when it is 
realized that 40,000 demonstrators secured bread mixers, measuring 
cups, oven thermometers, bread boxes, and other articles used in 
making good bread. 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 29 

It would not be possible to promote work of this kind through a 
series of years without getting some excellent results in general house- 
hold equipment. More than 20,000 homes reported tireless cookers, 
kitchen cabinets, sinks, draining boards, wheel trays, ironing boards, 
and other similar things which make for more comfort and better 
living. 

Influence of the work. — There are many miscellaneous features 
connected with the work of the women and girls which in them- 
selves constitute sufficient material for a very illuminating and en- 
couraging report. It is no small achievement for 466 girls to be 
able to attend high schools and colleges on the scholarships won in 
their club work. It is equally interesting to read about the 2,042 
who are paying part or all of their school and college expenses from 
money earned in the club work. Likewise, there is encouragement 
in the fact that 5,644 girls became bank depositors for the first time. 

Good work by individuals in their homes is sure to lead to the 
best kind of group or community work. While the agents have di- 
rected their efforts primarily to the homes, it is gratifying to find 
that the people who achieved good results in their own standardized 
activities united in erecting 2,268 community buildings to be used for 
demonstration club purposes. Local home demonstration clubs have 
cooperated with teachers in providing hot lunches at 1,154 schools. 
These are more than ordinary school lunches. They are real home 
lunches at schools, which is the proper basis upon which such work 
must be done. The home demonstration clubs of mothers, not the 
agents, should assume the responsibility. 

Club markets. — There is no more significant development in con- 
nection with any phase of extension work than that which has been 
done by the women and girls in establishing club markets. Home 
demonstration agents have taken advantage of the period of depres- 
sion to show the real value of their work. They are appreciated in 
periods of hard times even more than in prosperity. 

In 1921, 266 club markets were conducted in the South. Markets 
of this kind are opened, as a rule, for two or three hours a day. twice 
a week. In some cities, special buildings have been erected for such 
purpose. In others, boards of trade and business men have provided 
large storerooms for the markets. Sometimes rest rooms are fur- 
nished adjacent to such markets. The women and girls bring in 
the selected and graded products from their homes and farms. Such 
things as butter, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and meats are carefully 
prepared and standardized under the instruction of the agents and 
specialists. Frequently one woman brings in the products for six 
or eight of her neighbors. In this way they take turns in doing the 
marketing and there is no hardship on an3'one. In fact, the trip to 
market is a diversion and a pleasure. A committee of city and 
country women fixes fair prices for each market day. A club girl, 
with her desk and chair in the center of the market, receives reports 
of the sales and keeps a record of them. She also collects a small 
commission to pay for wrapping paper, bags, scales, and other in- 
cidental expenses. The commission covers actual and necessary costs 
only. The merchants and business men do not object to such mar- 
kets, because when these women get more money for their produce 
they buy more things at the stores and have more money to put into 
the banks. 



30 Department Circular 2b8, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

1 '(due of products. — A striking feature of the home demonstration 
work in 1921 is the value of the products sold and used at home. It 
is a wonderful achievement and reflects great credit on the 546 county 
home demonstration agents who had such a large share in bringing 
it about. Of course the supervising agents and specialists did their 
share. The total value of $18,409,089 of products sold and used at 
home indicates to some degree the far-reaching power and success 
of the work. The following table brings out these and other inter- 
esting points : 

Value of products of girls' 1 and women's club work. 



Name of article from which income is derived. 



Girls' work (value of 
products). 



Vegetables and fruits (fresh, canned, and con- 
served) 

Flowers 

Poultry products 

Miscellaneous (squabs, rabbits, fish from fish 
ponds, honey) 

Meat work (canned and cured meats, combina- 
tion and by-products) 

Milk products: 

Butter and cheese 

Cream and milk 

Cereal products (bread) 

Textile material (straws, rushes, splits, pine 
needles and saving by remodeling and dyeing. 

Total 

Total value 

Total value of all work 

Total prizes and scholarships awarded 

Grand total 



Sold. 



$209, 779. 63 

3, 825. 33 

123, 925. 36 

3, 249. 58 

710.80 

17,227.70 
20, 700. 96 

32, 895. 30 



Used at 
home. 



Women's work (value of 
products). 



Sold. 



,743,559.25 $1,404,811.85 
13, 728. 54 
1, 784, 736. 46 

24, 847. 02 

408, 837. 85 



125, 972. 29 

3, 347. 40 

84,701.59 

45,679.11 

C 1 ) 

147,306.78 



689, 019. 55 
1, 424, 464. 85 
(») 



172, 302. 00 j 102, 127. 93 



412,314.66 2,322,868.42 : 5,852,574.05 8,762,893.60 



Used at 
home. 



$3, 524, 847. 90 



1, 487, 242. 78 
20, 322. 00 

2, 143, 819. 79 
926, 757. 24 
414, 785. 69 
245, 118. 20 



2, 735, 183. 08 



14, 615, 467. 65 



17,350,650.73 
92, 208. 18 

17, 442, 85S. 91 



1 Not reported. 

Home heautification. — When the home demonstration work was 
first inaugurated, it was planned to have demonstrations in beautiful 
homes and landscapes as the crowning feature. It was necessary to 
start with a few primary things and work up gradually to such a 
climax. The work had been going on 8 or 10 years before many 
demonstrations of such nature were undertaken. There are now so 
many club members and demonstrators in the advanced steps of 
the work, however, that these beautification plans and activities are 
increasing rapidly. New club members begin with the same funda- 
mental features and work up to the same final results. Nearly 20,000 
women and girls carried on definite demonstrations in house and 
lawn improvement during 1921. Some of them undertook two or 
three different demonstrations along these lines. 

There were 6,725 homes remodeled and repaired in accordance 
with the plans agreed upon by the agents and demonstrators. In 
spite of the hard times, 1,112 new homes were built under similar 
arrangements. A very fine feature of the construction work is indi- 
cated by the fact that 12,109 rooms and porches were remodeled or 
refurnished. The demonstrations represent improvement of girls' 
bedrooms, family living rooms, and sleeping porches. In 22,459 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 31 

homes screens were put in. either for the whole house or for the 
kitchen and dining room. Nearly 5,000 demonstrations were re- 
ported in the installation of lighting, water, heating, and sewage 
systems. Doubtless these features of the work will be greatly en- 
larged during the next few years as the people again become more 
prosperous. Many of the improvements for the past year can be 
accounted for solely because the girls and women made money out of 
their own enterprises and were able to have improvements made 
in the homes without calling upon the husbands and fathers for all 
the money for such enterprises. It is much better for the women 
and girls to have their own bank accounts and to be able to share 
equally in such home improvements. 

Lawn improvement is becoming more and more general. The 
people seem to turn to the work of beautihcation as a solace in 
periods of distress and depression. Some of the demonstrations 
show that plans for the improvement of the whole farmstead have 
been worked out, the grass has been seeded, shrubs, trees, and flowers 
planted. In other cases the demonstrations consist in doing some 
of these things only. Other steps will be taken from time to time 
until the whole farmstead with the house as a center becomes a 
demonstration. It is worthy of permanent record, however, that 
there were 63.935 lawn and landscape demonstrations during the 
past year. The women agents have established the home demonstra- 
tion work in the Southern States in all its fundamental lines in a 
period of little more than 10 years. Another decade of achievement 
similarly faithful and efficient will intensify and multiply this great 
agency of progress and service. 

BOYS' CLUB WORK. 

The club work in 1921 was naturally affected by the influences 
and conditions that all lines of extension work had to meet. The 
financial depression which prevailed in practically every agricul- 
tural section reduced the number of agents. The low prices of all 
the club boys' products discouraged many of them from taking up 
new work, and in some cases they dropped the work already started. 
To pursue any line of endeavor very enthusiastically there must be 
a reasonable hope of financial reward. This is especially true with 
boys. Fortunately the club leaders had developed higher ideals and 
ambitions in the minds and hearts of the members than that of 
money alone. While the boys were taught that good business re- 
quired that a profit sould be made in producing their crops, yet the 
most important thing to get was training, knowledge, healthful ex- 
ercise, and the satisfaction in knowing that they had accomplished 
something worth while by their own efforts. The value of the oppor- 
tunity for social contact with other boys and girls in the recreational 
features of the local clubs, short courses, camps, etc., can hardly be 
overestimated. It is very gratifying to the club leaders to see, as 
the years go by, the increasing number of boys who, through their 
club work, get an inspiration to become more than the ordinary boy. 
Hundreds and perhaps thousands are now in high school and college 
who would never have thought of such a thing if they had not joined 
a boys' club and come under the influence of some kind, sympathetic 
club leader, who was able to inspire hope and point the way to 



32 Department Circular 248, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

better things and how to attain them. Perhaps the most far-reach- 
ing results of club work are to instill into the boy a greater respect 
for the dignity of labor and to show him that life on the farm can 
be made more comfortable and independent than in any other 
profession. 

Notwithstanding the difficulties encountered by the club workers, 
the total enrollment in all clubs in 1921 was 106,405. The total 
number of organized community clubs, including all demonstrations, 
was 4,364. The clubs held 15,767 community meetings, or an aver- 
age of 3.6 to each club. The number of encampments and short 
courses held for instruction and recreation was 469. More than 
1,100 club boys entered college for the first time in 1921. A poll of 
the students in college from one State showed that more than 50 
per cent of those from the farms had been club members. During 
the year, 7,373 boys were sent to the county and State fairs, short 
courses, encampments, and on other educational trips. More than 
2,000 club shows and exhibits were held, at which the boys won 
$127,265 in prizes. The bankers and others loaned the club members 
for all purposes approximately $242,000. The total market value of 
products grown by members reporting was $1,500,000. The esti- 
mated value of the crops grown by those not reporting was $657,301. 

Organization. 

Two methods were pursued in making up the plan of work for 
the State: (1) Plans were developed in the State office and sub- 
mitted at the annual agents' conference for approval; (2) the plan 
of work was developed by committees of agents in conference with 
the State agents and specialists. The State plans mentioned above 
provide only for the general policies and broad outlines for conduct- 
ing the work. 

Several States are attempting to federate the agricultural clubs into 
a county organization and the county organizations into State organi- 
zations. Under this scheme, when a county organization is perfected 
the president and secretary of the local clubs form the executive com- 
mittee for the county organization. Under the supervision of the 
county agent, a county program for the year is worked out through 
this committee. Each county organization elects its representative on 
the State executive committee. The State committee meets annually 
at the State camp or some short course to transact any business of a 
state-wide nature and select State officers. 

A new feature that has attracted considerable attention is the self- 
financing plan, by which the county executive committee draws up 
the club budget for the county. The budget covers the expenses nec- 
essary to conduct a county-wide program, including those of the 
county executive committee, representatives to the State short course 
or camp, for judging teams, and one or more community prizes. Each 
local club raises its pro rata share in any way it sees fit, usually by 
entertainments at which admission fees are charged. This plan gives 
the club members business training and creates a feeling of responsi- 
bility and pride in seeing that their work is properly conducted. 
Each member not only keeps his own demonstrations in good shape, 
but feels an interest in the progress and success of the work as a com- 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 33 

munity proposition. It is very interesting to note the business ability 
shown by club members in working out details of the plan. 

Under the self-financing plan it is necessary to have more com- 
munity meetings where the social features may be discussed as well 
as ways and means. It relieves the county agent of many details, as 
the community club is made responsible for securing enrollments, 
keeping the records, and collecting final reports. One State reports 
16 counties adopting this plan, with more than $5,000 pledged and 
raised, and 110 community clubs collected the members' record books 
and submitted annual reports to the county agents. Thirty-three 
clubs report 100 per cent record books collected, and one county re- 
ports 100 per cent reports received. 

Demonstrations. 

Corn. — Corn club demonstrations lead the list. The value of good 
seed and improved methods in growing the crop are as evident now 
as in previous years. The average of the boys' demonstration acres 
was 44.9 bushels, as compared with 38.6 bushels in adult demonstra- 
tions, and an average yield of 22.1 bushels in all the Southern States. 
To promote interest in soil improvement, the boys were encouraged 
to plant legumes in their corn. Some agents have adopted the plan 
of allowing the boy credit for an aditional bushel of corn for every 
bushel of peas or beans grown. This extract from an agent's report 
illustrates the influence of the corn demonstrations : 

While walking over the farm of Walter Smith, a farmer in moderate cir- 
cumstances, we discussed corn growing and fanning in general. We visited the 
club acres of his two boys. I mentioned to him the great improvement in farm- 
ing which had taken place in the county and was telling him what I thought 
brought this change about. He said : " While that may be true, my two 
boys have taught me more about corn growing than I ever knew in my 
life. Until you started them in club work farming was a drag for us all, but 
now the boys have put enthusiasm into our work and the farm is paying for 
the first time since I have owned it. 

Cotton. — Low prices caused a reduction in the cotton demonstra- 
tions. The yield of those who did grow cotton was satisfactory. 
The most valuable part of the boys' cotton club work is the unusual 
interest in the growing of improved varieties on a community basis. 

Potatoes. — There was an increased number of demonstrations with 
both white and sweet potatoes. In some instances, especially with 
white potatoes, the members were interested in the growing of 
certified seed for planting purposes. Some interest was taken in the 
community centers in grading and standardizing the products. 
Peanut demonstrations have also been popular with the club boys; 
but. owing to the very low prices, the demonstrations with this crop 
were greatly reduced. 

Pigs. — Of the live-stock work, pig club demonstrations are de- 
cidedly the most popular. They are conducted along three lines: 
(1) Growing and fattening a pig for meat or for the market; (2) 
growing a purebred pig for breeding purposes; and (3) demonstra- 
tions with a sow and litter. The fattening demonstration is con- 
sidered the best for beginners. It gives the boy valuable informa- 
tion in the feeding and care of animals, preparatory to taking up the 



34 Department Circular 2b8, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

other two lines. The demonstrations in growing pigs for breeding 
purposes are still encouraged in some sections. The chief disad- 
vantage is the relatively small percentage of pigs that will develop 
into animals of individual merit for breeding purposes. Serious 
mistakes have been made in inducing club boys to buy high-priced 
pigs, supposed to be well bred, which afterwards prove to be of 
little value for breeding stock. The training and experience re- 
ceived from such demonstrations should be the main feature. 
Medium-priced, well bred stock will serve this purpose as well as the 
high-priced; and if the boy wishes to sell his pig he does not have 
to get an unusual price to make a profit. Where the boy has had 
experience in handling live stock and expects to make a permanent 
business of it, it would seem a good policy for him to procure a bred 
gilt if he can afford it. This will give him quicker returns and also 
insure his getting a good type of animal to start with. 

More than 50 per cent of the enrolled pig club members com- 
pleted their work and sent in final reports. The total number of 
animals included in these reports was 19,240. 

Beef cattle. — During the past year the number of beef -cattle 
demonstrations with boys has grown in some sections and decreased 
in others. More than 874 boys carried their demonstrations through 
to completion. The beef-cattle demonstrations seem to be pretty well 
divided between those in fattening and those in growing young stock 
for breeding purposes. As in the pig-club work, it is found best for 
the boy to start out with a fattening demonstration. This furnishes 
the easiest and cheapest way of getting some needed experience in 
caring for a calf. Some valuable prizes have been won by boys in 
both fattening and breeding contests. The principal drawback to 
the breeding demonstration is the long wait for profits. A few good 
demonstrations in dairying and other live-stock work have been 
carried on by the boys. 

Poultry. — A considerable amount of good work with poultry was 
reported. More than 6,851 reports on completed demonstrations 
with poultry were received, showing satisfactory profits. 

Short Courses, Camps, Tox t rs, Etc. 

Club rallies and pageants are still popular and are beneficial in 
attracting the interest and support of business people, but short 
courses, camps, and club tours afford the best training and educa- 
tional advantages. There are three kinds of short courses — county, 
district, and State. The county short courses are usually conducted 
under the auspices of the county club organization ; the district short 
courses are held at some district high school and are usually par- 
ticipated in by members from a number of counties; and the State 
short course is conducted at the State headquarters. These courses 
not only give valuable instruction but encourage the members to 
obtain higher education. The camps give educational advantages 
and also furnish wholesome recreation for the boys. It also de- 
velops initiative and self-reliance. Usually the men and women 
agents work up programs for these camps that allow the joint par- 
ticipation of the girls and boys in most of the exercises and instruc- 
tion. 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 35 

Club Judging Work. 

Judging work is done in all the States and may be with grain or 
animals. It stimulates interest among the club members in better 
crops and animals, but the greatest benefit is perhaps the competi- 
tive spirit aroused in clubs or communities. It is estimated that 
more than 15,000 boys and girls entered the contests and received 
some valuable training in live-stock judging as a result of the inter- 
national club judging contest at the Southeastern States Exposition 
at Atlanta last year. The various prizes offered in connection with 
the judging contest at State and interstate fairs have made it pos- 
sible for quite a large number of prize-winning boys and girls to 
secure trips of great educational value, aside from the pleasure and 
experience of seeing and meeting people from other sections. 

NEGRO EXTENSION WORK. 

No other class of agricultural people was in quite such a dis- 
tressed condition at the beginning of 1921 as the negro farmers. 
As the majority of negro farmers are tenants, there is every }^ear a 
considerable amount of moving from one farm to another. In 1921 
there was not only unrest and moving among negro tenants but many 
of their white landlords were in as bad financial straits as the 
negroes themselves. Thousands of the best negro farmers had to 
give up all their live stock and equipment to satisfy their creditors. 
Such a condition made the duties of the negro extension workers, 
numbering 154 men and 84 women agents, very difficult. However, 
as the season progressed, their heroic efforts to stabilize conditions 
among their people were rewarded with considerable success. Prob- 
ably no class of agents in the whole extension organization ren- 
dered a more effective service in meeting the conditions that existed 
in many of the rural districts. The success attained in overcoming 
the discouraging prospect and closing the year with reasonably 
satisfactory results again illustrates the fundamental principle that 
the most successful way to reach the average man or woman on the 
farm is by personal contact with him and his family. 

In those communities where the work has been carried on longest, 
it was possible to do a great deal through the negro organizations, 
such as community farmers' clubs, fair associations, churches, and 
schools. In a few more advanced sections county advisory boards, 
made up of representatives of the local clubs, have been organized. 
All of these organizations have been helpful to the agents in carry- 
ing out their plan of work in such a way as to benefit the maximum 
number of people. 

Farm Demonstration Work. 

There were reported in 1921 885 negro farm clubs, with a total 
membership of 40,173, 269 of these clubs, with a membership of 
12,215, being organized during the year. Considerable assistance 
was given the negro farmers in organizing to sell and purchase co- 
operatively. It was reported that the farmers purchased through 
these associations during the year $372,004 worth of supplies, at a 
saving to them of more than $80,000. 

There were fewer reports from demonstrators and club members 
than last year ; but, considering the conditions under which they were 



36 Department Circular 248, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

obtained, the total results are all the more striking. The men agents 
report 14,116 demonstrations in field crops, covering about 68,948 
acres. The chief crops were corn, cotton, oats, cowpeas, peanuts, and 
potatoes. The increased yields reported on the demonstration farms 
range from 40 to 75 per cent over adjoining farms where ordinary 
methods were used. 

Some of the miscellaneous work done through the negro men 
agents, as shown in their reports, is as follows : 4,131 home orchards 
inspected, 2,456 pruned, and 1,253 sprayed; 643 new home orchards, 
with a total of 3,193 trees set out; 2,553 farmers induced to terrace 
land; 3,459 grew grazing crops for hogs for. the first time. About 
8,000 cattle, hogs, and horses were treated for disease; 18,509 home 
gardens were planted ; and 5,315 farmers planted cover crops for im- 




Fig. 11. — A group being instructed in canning and other home demonstration work. 

proving the soil. The agents made 92,094 visits, traveled 453,506 
miles, and received 23,694 calls at their homes or offices from colored 
farmers asking for instruction and advice on various subjects. 

Home Demonstration Work. 



The negro home demonstration agents did extremely practical 
work among the negro women and girls (Fig. 11). Demonstrations 
and instructions were given in food production, preservation, and 
preparation; poultry raising; home dairying; health; and sewing 
and handicraft. There were organized 3,262 women's clubs, with 21,- 
287 members enrolled, and 2,482 girls' clubs, with 16,781 members. 
It is estimated that 28,000 other women and girls, not members of the 



Extension Work in the Southern States, 1903-1921. 37 

clubs, adopted improved practices through the influence of the work. 
The women agents secured 20,788 garden demonstrators, and 12,853 
canning demonstrators, and assisted in the starting of 4,467 orchards 
and vineyards. The total value of the poultry products used in the 
home and sold by the club members was $60,583. More than 300,000 
pounds of butter for home use and for market were produced under 
the instruction of these agents. The agents assisted in establishing 
lunches which included milk in 616 schools. The general improve- 
ment in the health of the children attending these schools was very 
noticeable. More than 500,000 women and girls were instructed in 
the curing and canning of meats, valued at $72,000. The total num- 
ber of containers of canned fruit and vegetables reported was 1,228,- 
544. The value of all 
the canned goods 
and dried products 
was $1,122,568. Ap- 
proximately 40,000 
home and farm con- 
veniences, such as 
laundry, poultry, 
and dairy equip- 
ment, were installed. 
Much of the new 
equipment was 
homemade. The 
agents gave 5,674 
women and girls in- 
struction in sewing, 
dyeing, and rug and 
broom making. It 
was found that such 
work is very popular 
with the negro 
women and girls. 
The home demon- 
stration agents vis- 
ited 16,978 homes to 

give instruction and demonstrations. Talks and demonstrations 
were given at 8,090 club meetings, with an attendance of 571,291. 

The men and women agents combined efforts in establishing 2,492 
poultry demonstrations and placed 2,320 purebred flocks, influenced 
the purchase of 1,379 family cows, assisted in improving and remodel- 
ing 5,059 dwellings, screening 11,549, and improving the sanitary 
• onditions in 7,945 homes. More than 10,000 home grounds were 
improved and beautified by the planting of trees, shrubs, flowers, 
and vines. 

Club Work. 




Fig. 



12. — Field instruction of members of a farm-makers' 
club. 



Home makers' clubs for negro boys were in operation in all of the 
States during the year (Fig. 12). The total enrollment in crop clubs 
was 8,753, and in live-stock clubs 5,485. Of these, 6,717 completed 
the work and made detailed reports, showing a value of all products 
of $229,748. Results of the negro girls' club work are included in 
the report of the home demonstration agents (p. 36). 



38 Department Circular 2b8, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

The demonstration method of teaching, as practiced by the exten- 
sion forces in the 15 Southern States, is definitely approved and sup- 
ported as a part of the educational system of these States. In spite 
of being launched to meet an emergency, its ideals and purposes 
frequently misunderstood, sometimes discouraged and antagonized 
in quarters where encouragement and support was expected, and 
often inadequately financed, the agricultural extension organization 
has steadily developed into one of the most efficient bodies of organ- 
ized workers in the country. This was evidenced during the war by 
the frequency of the calls made upon this organization by other 
departments of the Government and other agencies for aid in carry- 
ing out various emergency propositions. The agents, in a degree, 
at least, held their influence with the farmers during the unprece- 
dented period of prosperity, and were the first to offer suggestions 
for overcoming the discouragement and demoralization following the 
precipitate fall of prices of farm products. Thousands of farmers 
and business men were directly benefited by timely and helpful sug- 
gestions of the extension agents in 1921. Though there was a gen- 
eral demand for retrenchment in expenditure of public funds, the 
proportion of States and counties that failed to support the extension 
work and the county agents was remarkably small. This leads those 
responsible for the administration of the organization to feel that, 
on the whole, a real worth-while public need is being met successfully. 
Public confidence in the organizations seems to be well established. 
The leaders and most of the county workers feel the need of holding 
to the great fundamental idea of continuing a considerable number 
of concrete farm and home demonstrations. The confident belief of 
those most concerned is that the outlook for constant growth and a 
useful service by the cooperative extension work in every State is 
very encouraging. 



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